
The wheelbarrow that Michael Gilbert's wrapped-up body was found lying in
Richard Watt continued to give evidence against his family this week when he told the court of the cover up "operation" that followed the death of Michael Gilbert.
Mr Watt, 25, who has already pleaded to a charge of familial homicide, told Luton crown court how the body of Mr Gilbert was chopped up in his family's home and the parts then wrapped up.
Asked by Stuart Trimmer QC prosecuting who was directing operations, he replied that it was his older brother James.
Richard Watt said the body was dismembered in a bedroom before the torso was carried and placed in the bath.
He said his brother James had cut the body up.
Asked who had wrapped up the various parts, Mr Watt replied it was he, James and his other brother Robert.
He said Natasha Oldfield had supplied black bags for the parts to go in.
Asked by Mr Trimmer why he had taken part he replied: "Because I was too scared not to, scared of James. I was scared of what would happen to me if I didn't do it because of what I have seen him do before. He would have done something to me if I didn't do it."
Richard Watt then told the jury how the body parts were lifted into Nichola Roberts's Ford Escort car by himself, James and younger brother Robert.
He said the parts were taken out of the house in a laundry bag, a black bag and a fishing trolley.
Mr Watt said his brother James had decided that they should take the parts to the Blue Laoon lake near Arlesey.
The jury then heard how the brothers drove to the Blue Lagoon with Robert behind the wheel.
He said they looked for a spot where they could dump the parts and then the parts were taken out from the car and strapped to the fishing trolley.
Mr Watt said the dead man's head was in a rucksack that also contained a heavy stone.
The jury were told that the fishing trolley couldn't take the weight of the remains of Mr Gilbert and broke.
As a result he said the torso of Mr Gilbert and other parts, which were now inside a builders sandbag, were hidden under some hay near the water's edge.
He said the head in the rucksack was thrown in the water by James and the plan was to buy a wheelbarrow to take the torso to the lake.
Mr Watt said he and his brothers returned to Luton where he and Natasha Oldfield went together to a B&Q store to buy a wheelbarrow.
He said he selected it and Natasha paid for it.
The jury then heard how the brothers drove back to the Blue Lagoon.
Richard Watt said people were walking their dog near to the spot where the remains had been hidden and he had to hide while they passed.
He said as he was doing so their dog came up and "nipped" him.
The brother then told how the torso was placed into the wheelbarrow and taken to the water's edge.
He said it was then wheeled into the water and eventually disappeared under the water.
Mr Watt said they then drove back to Luton.
He said: "James said if ever the parts were found to say we know nothing about it and to blame it on this person called Barry."
He said James told them to say that Barry had threatened Mr Gilbert outside the Tesco store in Skimpot Road, Luton.
The case continues.